Renowned figures in architecture and interior design David Trubridge and Rogier van der Heide will be keynote speakers at the ‘Interior Design Congress,’ during FoID 2011.

The festival is part of APID’s (Association of Professional Interior Designers) move to increase awareness on the role interior designers play in our daily lives and to discuss industry issues including a showcase of work of emerging talents and design firms in the Middle East.

“APID is heavily focusing on the preparations for the first ever Festival of Interior Design. We are honoured that David Trubridge and Rogier van der Heide have accepted our invitation to be speakers at the Interior Design Congress,” said Farida Kamber Al Awadhi, president, APID.

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“We are sure that participants during the congress will learn a lot from the talks and discussions of these experts, who will also be joined by fellow industry professionals from the region’s Interior Design sector. Learning from them reflects our commitment towards giving local designers the chance to improve on their skills and talent and work alongside internationally renowned design masters.”

Trubridge is a furniture designer based in New Zealand. He uses natural materials to reduce the effect on the environment and holds a degree in naval architecture (boat design) from Newcastle University in England.

He has had works commissioned for London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, exhibited at the Milan furniture fairs as well as the International Contemporary Furniture Fair and taught at the Vitra summer design school in Milan.

Van der Heide is a designer based in the Netherlands and has contributed to public and commercial places all over the world. He studied at the Institut Superieur des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Belgium and the Amsterdam School of Arts.

He started his career as a theatre lighting designer in The Netherlands, doing light design for a number of Dutch theatre groups. In 1990, he joined the Amsterdam-based design practice, Hans Wolff & Partners (HWP), which specialise in architectural lighting design and theatre consulting.

Leaving HWP in 1994, van der Heide became a founding principal at Hollands Licht Advanced Design, the practice that he would own, lead and direct for 10 years. He has also worked as a director for Arup, design and consulting firm. In March 2010, he joined Philips Electronics as VP of Philips and chief design officer of Philips Lighting.

The Interior Design Congress will run alongside INDEX 2011, which will take place on October 22-25, at Dubai World Trade Centre.